Combined reading table and writing desk



y 1932- R. c. BURNL EY COMBINED READING TABLE AND WRITING DESK Filed April 18 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 5 Q My y 5, 1932- R. c. BURNLENY 1,866,450

comsmmn READING TABLE AND WRITING masx Filed April 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV TOR ATTOR NEYS Patented July 5, 1932 ROBERT C. BURNLEY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUClKY COMBINED READING TABLE Ann WRITING DESK Application filed April 18, 1931. Serial No. 531,195.

This invention relates to a combined reading table and writing desk and has for the.

primary object, the provision of means whereby the top may be easily and quickly adjusted to assume various inclinations to permit more comfort for the user and allow different characters of work to be more conveniently carried out upon the top.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means whereby the top may be held in any of its adjusted positions and further the height of the top relative to the floor or supporting surface may be varied to permit the use of the device either by children or adults.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a combined reading table and writing desk of the above stated character which will be simple, durable and eflicient and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a combined reading table and writing desk constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the top occupying a horizontal position.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation illustrating the device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the connection between the legs and extension therefor.

Figure 6 is a detail view partly in section illustrating a modified form of my invention.

' Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a substantially rectangular shaped top carrying a brace 2 to which is secured substantially U-shaped brackets 3 pivoted to the upper ends of legs 4: as shown at 5. The lower ends of the legs are cut away to form pairs of ears 6 adapted to straddle bolts or like fasteners 7 carried by-floor engaging members 8. i 7

Extensions 9 are'provided for therlegs 4 and have one of their ends reduced to form 155 extensions 10 adapted to fit between the pairs of ears 6 of the legs and carrying lugs 11 positioned between the ears '6. Sleeves 12 are slidably mountedon the extensions and are adapted to be positioned over the joints between the legs and extensions when it is desired to employ the sections for the purpose of lengthening the legs or increasing the distance betweenthe top and the floor. The other ends of the extensions 9 have screw-- 5 threaded lugs 13 adapted tobe threaded into internally threadedopenings 14in the feet. The extensions 10' may have screw-threaded lugs at their other ends, similar to the lugs 10 and be thread-ed in sockets in-the ends of the legs 4, if this type of connection should be preferred to that heretoforedes cribed.

Arms 15 are secured to-the 'U-shaped brackets 3 and have angularly disposed portions 16 provided with slots 17 to receive bolts or like fasteners 18 carried by adjusting members 19-that have their lower ends pivoted to arms 20 as shown at 21. The arms 20 are carried by the legs 4 above the feet. The adjusting members 19 are connected by a rod 22 adapted to fit within any pairof a .plurality of notches 23 formed in a substantially U-shaped holding member 26 journalled on a brace25 which connects the legs 4: as clearly shown in Figure 1. The notches 23 are formed in the armportions 0f the U-sha ped holding member 2 1 and by adjusting the rod 22 into the various notches 23 of the holding member. the top may be disposed at various 7 inclinations or positioned horizontally as shown in Figure 3 when desired. When in the latter namedposition, the bolts 18 have moved to the inner ends of the slots 17 and the nuts thereon are tightened to prevent accidental tilting of the top 1 on the pivots 5.

The guard strip 26 may be associated with the top 1 for the purpose of retaining articles on the latter when in any of its adjusted inclined positions. The guard 26 has sockets adjacent its ends to receive i t 00 gers 27 carried by the top. Bifurcated clips 28 are also pivoted to the edges of the top and may be swung vertically to receive the guard 26 after the latter has been removed from the finger 27 for the purpose of permitting the location of the guard on the supporting surface of the top to be variedv Bolts 29 arecarried bythe arms15 to engage in notches 30 of the adjusting members 19 when desiring to hold the top 1 in a horizontal position. It being understood that the bolts 30 are provided with nuts, whereby the arms 15 and adjusting members may be screwed together when said bolts are positioned in the notches.

The drawings. show the adjusting members 19 in. pairs, or a single adjusting member may be had at each side of the desk and have the ends thereof bifurcated to engage the bolts 2101? the arms 20 and the bolts 18 of the arms 15.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that a very eflicient table or desk has been provided, wherein the height of the top from the floor may be varied When desired for the purpose of permitting the device to be employed either by children or adults, and further itis to be noted that the top can be easily and quickly adjusted into various inclined positions or disposed horizontally, when desired. Also the various parts of the device are so connected that they will be easily and quickly detached from each other when desiring to crate the device for shipment or for storage.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and'arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: V

A a combined reading table and writing desk comprising supporting legs, brackets pivoted to the legs, a top secured to the brackets, arms secured to the brackets: and having angularly disposed slotted portions, adjusting arms pivotally and slidably .secured to said portions, brackets secured to the legs and pivoted to the adjusting arms, a

rod connecting the adjusting arms, and a U-shaped member pivoted to the legs and having notches therein to receive the rod for holding the top in variousadjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

ROBERT C. BURN LEY. 

